Shock absorber



Dec. 7 1926. 1,609,730

H. w. LARssoN SHOCK ABSORBER Filed Feb. 26, 1925 if gig 111191110,

w INVENTOR Patented Dec. 7, 1926 UNITED STATES HENRY w. LABSSON, orOAKLAND, oALrronmA.

SHOCK ABSORBER.

Application filed February 26, 1923. Serial No. 621,389.

in the cylinder and around the piston to abate movements of the pistonat either end of its stroke.

Another object is to impose a coiled spring between the piston head'andthe head of the casing, the said spring being more resilient and moresensitive than the automobile spring. 1

Another object is to pivot a bell crank in a horizontal casing, linkingone of its arms to a piston head, and to pivot the other arm to anautomobile axle. It will be noted that in this form of construction,the'road shocks are imparted to the piston in a line of its axis, thuseliminating friction and wear on this important partof the shockabsorber.

Another object is to provide an oiling system. I have devised positivemeans, whereby all the engaging surfaces ofthe piston and the casinghave an ample supply of oil.

Another object in mounting the cylinder horizontally, is that the airpockets form a reservoir for the oil, and that the excess oil on thepiston will drain back into said reservoir.

Another object is to provide a .shockabsorber whichis simple inconstruction, efficient in its operation, and requiring little care. I r

In the drawings in which my invention is illustrated, I have shown itattached to a transverse spring construction; but I do not limit myselfto this form, since it may be.

embodied in other forms, and in the annexed specification and appendedclaims, I desire to cover my invention in whatever form it may beembodied.

Referring to the. drawings Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of my shockabsorber.

Fig. 2 is anend view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an end view of ring 6 viewed from line 3-3 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 4 is an end view of the piston partially in section, viewed fromline 4%1 of Fi 1.

l teferring more particularly to the drawings, casing 1 is horizontallymountedon an automobile 'sprin 1 1. A clip 12 is secured to the spring,a llnk 4 is pivoted to clip 12,

1-an air chamber is formed.

and connects with lug31, formed on plug 3,

that forms the head on casing 1. Link 15 connects the outer end of theautomobile spring 14: with lug 10 on casing 1. The casing 1 is bored toform a cylinder, having two diameters. The smaller diameter forming aninner bearingfor the piston 2. In this cylinder the piston 2 is.reciprocally mounted. A ring 6 is inserted into the cylinder, andsecured by set screw 30. This ring 6 forms a bearing for the front endof piston 2, and also forms the fronthead of cylinder 1.' Between thisring 6 and the back end of the larger bore of the cylinder An annularring 9.41 isformed on piston 2. Its diameter is the same as the largerbore of the cylinder. This ring at, working in the cylinder. produces anair cushion at either end of the stroke of the piston. Another functionof this annular ring 24 is in connection with the oiling system. Thisring 2 1 has a groove 19 on its periphery, and a duct 27 connects thisgroove 19. with the oil reservoir. A horizontal inward movement of thepiston produces an air pressure on the oil in the reservoir, that forcesthe oil through the duct 27 into groove 19 and thoroughly oils the wallsof the casing. In the smaller bore of easing 1 that forms the bearingfor the body of the piston 2 an annular groove 20is formed, and apassage28 connects this groove with duct 29 that opens into the oil reservoir.A horizontal inward movement of the piston produces an air pressure onthe oil inthe reservoir, and forces the oil through duct 29 and intogroove 20, thus oiling the inner bearing of the piston 2. An annulargroove 18, a passage-25 and a duct 26 in ring 6, form an oiling systemfor the front end of the piston 2 An outward movement of the piston 2pro 'duces an air pressure on the oil reservoir in the front airchamber, causing the oil to pressure against the piston head, and toholdthe piston in a central position when at rest, as shown in Fig. 1. Inthe casing l, the ball crank"? is mounted. Bolt 21 forms its pivot. Oneof its arms is connected to the piston head 2 by a link 8 with pivots 22llll l and 23. The other arm of the bell crank T is pivoted to the.perch l6, that is secured to the automobile axle 17, bolt 9 torming itspivot. A vertical movement of the outer arm of said bell crank,relatively tothecasing, produces a horizontal movement of its other arm,relatively to the casing, andlink 8 transmits this movement to pistonhead 2. This construction allows piston2 :to float in its bearings, asthe stress against the piston 2 is one lineof 'itsaxis. Itisthus-obvious that friction is reduced to a mininunn. This-is of yreatimportance, as on the sensitive movement of piston B-depends thechiciency of i the shock absorber.

In action, when the automobileis moving over-the road, and the wheelstrikes anobstruetion, thus causing an upward movement oftheiiXlQ,tlIlS'HIOVQDIBIlt is imparted tobthe piston 2 through the bellcrank "7, and link 8,-causing it to=bc pressed into the cylinder :1.This action takes place betore the automobile spring has dim-e to act,as the springbehind the-piston is more resilient and sensitive in its:actionthan the automobile spring 1%, and. should :the road shock besevere enough to iorce the P1511011 to the end of its inward stroke, theair cushion formed between the .annular ring 2% on .piston 22, andcasing1 will abate its motion. Ifithe case should be reversed, so that :the'wheel should i drop .into a depression in the road, thus causing adownward n'ioveinent ofth-e axle, the piston iwillpmove outward and takeup this movement before the automobile spring has time .to act, HthllSgiving the desired shock :absorbing effect. And should thismotion. be;great enough to allow the piston its full forward stro :e, the .aircushion rform-ed in thisiend of the. cylinder will abate its 1 movement.

Having; thus :described my invention, what Iiclaim and desire toisecurelay-Letters.Patcnt.is

1. In a shock absorber of the character described, a cylinder having twochambers formed therein, one larger than the other, ahead memberfoneachiend ot'the cylinder, a piston ,in the cylinder extending throughone head member and having a sliding fit therein, an exterionring on thepiston havinga sliding fit within the cylinderchainber oflargeediameter, said ring dividing said ecylinder. chamber 1 into twoair cushioning compartments, a-spring engagea-ble withone end of thepiston and resistingmovement inone direction abell crank pivotallymounted on oneendof-the cylinder, and a link connection between one endof the bell crank andthe piston.

2. In a shock absorber ot' the character described a cylinder having-twochambers formed therein, one larger-than the other, a headmemberforeachv end of the cylinder, a piston inthe cylinder extending throughWilli Hill W Hill .springand axle a shockabsorbercoinpr' one head memberand having a sliding lit therein, an exterior rrngxon the piston andhaving a-sliding tit within-tho cylinder and 'lividing one cylinderchamber into two air cushioningcompartments, a spring engageable withone end of the piston and resisting IIIQVOlllGl'll' in one direction, abell crank pivotally mounted on one end of the cylinder, and a:linkconn-ection between one end of the bell crank and the piston.

13. In combination with an auton'iobile spring and axle, a shockabsorbercomprising-a horizontalouter-casing, a-piston within said casing, springmeans positioned between said piston and said casing, 111611115 forpivoting said :casing to said autoinol)ile spring, means for pivotingsaid .piston to said axle through a bell crank pivoted in said casing, aring surrounding said piston andcsecured in said casing, a second ringsurrounding said piston,v formed at the in- -nercnd ot-said casing andanannular ring itorined on said piston betweensaid-iirstand second namedrings, substantially .as described.

%.111 combination with an automobile ling a horizontal outercasinpgapiston with 'lll StllCl caslng, Spring-DEEDS positmnedbetween saidpiston and said casing, mcans for mounting said casing :to .theautomobile spring. iineans for pivotingsaid piston ito saidiaxle througha bell crank and :means securedin said casing wh-erebyiai'i .air spaceiscformed on both sides of a {formed on said piston.

In combination with .an automobile spring and axle,.a shoclcabsorbercomprising" a horizontal ,onterrasing anda piston withinsaid casingspaced therefrom iby ,a

spring postioned between said piston and said casing,saidcasino-suitably secured to said spring, znbell crank pivoted insaidcasing. one arm of said bell. crank linked to said piston, a ringencircling the it'ront end of said piston. a secondring eucirclin saitpiston. at the inner end thereof, an annular ring jiorined on saidpiston between said first mentioned rinenndsaid second ring, whereby airspaces are formed between them. substantially as described.

6. In combination with an automobile spring and axle, ashock, absorbercomprising a horizontal. cylinder suitably connected to said spring, a pistOnovithin snid cylinder, spring means positioned bet-Weenrthejl-ieajdof said. piston. and the head of ,said cylinder, an inner bearing for.said piston formed in said cylinder, an annular groove :lormedin saidbearing, a passage connecting said groove with an oil reservoir a ringsecured in the front end of said cylinderforming the front l11.Cl.0fSRlfl (#:Ylll'lClQlpflTltl :front hearing for said piston, an annulargroove formed in saith-bearing with llg PtlSSfi-{dCOllcylinder betweenthe inner and outer bearing of said piston, a ring formed on said pistondividing said air space and oil reservoir, an annular groove formed onthe periphery of said ring, a passage connecting said groove to said oilreservoir, a bell crank pivoted to said cylinder, means for connectingone arm of said bell crank to the piston and means for connecting theother arm of said bell crank to said automobile axle.

7. In a shock absorber of the character described, a cylinder having twochambers formed therein, one larger than the other, a head member foreach end of the cylinder, a piston in the cylinder extendin through onehead member and having a sli ing fit therein, and also having a slidingfit in the cylinder chamber of smaller diameter, an exterior ring on thepiston having a sliding fit with the cylinder chamber of largerdiameter,

said ring dividing said cylinder chamber into two air cushloningcompartments, a spring 1n the chamber of smaller diameter engaging thepiston at one end and the head member at the other end, means permittingadjustment of said head member to increase or decrease the tension ofsaid spring, a bell crank ivotally mounted on the cylinder, and a linkconnection between one end of said bell crank and the piston.

8. The combination with the spring and the axle of a vehicle, of acylinder lying substantially parallel with a spring, a piston in thecylinder, a link connection between the piston and the axle, a pair oflink connections between the cylinder and the spring, said links beingdisposed at opposite ends of the cylinder, spring means resistingmovement of the piston in one direction, and pneumatic actuated meansresisting movement of the piston in both directions.

9. The combination with the spring and the axle of a vehicle, of acylinder supported by the spring and lying substantially paralleltherewith, a piston in the cylinder, a link connection between thepiston and the axle, a pair of links connecting the cylinder and thespring, said links being disposed at opposite ends of the cylinder,springs means resisting movement of the piston in one direction, andpneumatic actuated means resisting movement of the piston in bothdirections. Zr-

10. The combination with the axle and spring of'a vehicle, of a cylindersupported by the spring and lying substantially parallel therewith, apiston in the cylinder, a bell crank pivotally mounted on one end of thecylinder, a hnk connection between the piston and one end of the bellcrank, another connection between the bell crank and the axle, springmeans resisting movement of the piston within the cylinder in onedirection, and pneumatic actuated means resist-K ing movement of thepiston within the cylinder in both directions. 7

11. In a shock absorber of the character described, a cylinder havingtwo chambers formedtherein, one larger than the other, a head member foreach end of the cylinder, :1 piston in the cylinder extending throughone head member and having a' sliding fit therein, an exterior ring onthe piston having a sliding fit within the cylinder chamber of largerdiameter, said ring dividing said cylinder into two air cushioningcompartments, 2. sprin engageable with one end of the piston anresisting movement in one direction, a vehicle spring, means supportingthe cylinder with relation thereto, a vehicle axle and a connectionbetween the axle and the piston.

12. In a shock absorber of the character described, a cylinder havingtwo chambers formed therein, one larger than the other, a

head member for each end of the cylinder, a piston in the cylinderextending through one head member and having a sliding fit therein, anexterior ring on the piston and having a slidin fit within the cylinderand dividing one cy inder chamber into two air cushioning compartments,a spring engageable with one end of the piston and resisting movement inone direction, a semi-elliptical spring, a flexible connection betweenthe spring and the cylinder and forming a support for the cylinder, andmeans whereby flexing of said spring is transmitted and resisted by thepiston.

HENRY W. LARSSON.

